[Biofuel] Disney

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 06:44:31 -0700 


This letter was sent today  by the entire Democratic leadership of the US

Senate. This letter is such a  major shot across the bow of Disney, it's 
not even
funny. It is FILLED with  veiled threats, both legal and legislative, 
against

Disney. US Senators don't  make threats like this, especially the entire

Democratic leadership en masse,  unless they mean it. Disney is in serious 
trouble.


Read it, then read  my analysis of it below:
September 7, 2006

Mr. Robert A. Iger
President and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista  Street
Burbank CA 91521

Dear Mr. Iger,

We write with  serious concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The
Path to 9/11  mini-series on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from
experts on 9/11  who have viewed the program indicate numerous and serious

inaccuracies that  will undoubtedly serve to misinform the American people 
about the
tragic  events surrounding the terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, 
the

manner in which this program has been  developed, funded, and advertised

suggests a partisan bent unbecoming  of a major company like Disney and a 
major and
well respected news  organization like ABC. We therefore urge you  to 
cancel
this broadcast to cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching  tool in 
schools

across America through Scholastic. Presenting such  deeply flawed and

factually inaccurate misinformation to the American public  and to children 
would be a
gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic  responsibility to the law, 
to

your shareholders, and to the  nation.

The Communications Act of 1934 provides your network with a  free broadcast
license predicated on the fundamental understanding of your  principle

obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving  the 
public interest.
Nowhere is this public interest obligation more  apparent than in the duty 
of

broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a  democracy by promoting an open
and accurate discussion of political ideas  and events.


Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the  9/11 Commission 
Report
and are using that assertion as part of the  promotional campaign for it. 
The
9/11 Commission is the most respected  American authority on the 9/11 
attacks,

and association with it carries a  special responsibility. Indeed, the very

events themselves on 9/11, so  tragic as they were, demand extreme care by 
any

who attempt to use those  events as part of an entertainment or educational

program. To quote Steve  McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, 
“When you

take on the  responsibility of telling the story behind such an important
event, it is  absolutely critical that you get it right.�

Unfortunately, it appears  Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.


Despite claims by your network’s representatives  that The Path to 9/11 
is
based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11  Commissioners themselves, 
as

well as other experts on the issues,  disagree.


Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow  9/11 Commissioners 
who
recently viewed the program, said, “As we were  watching, we were trying 
to
think how they could have misinterpreted the  9/11 Commission’s findings 
the way
that they had.� [“9/11 Miniseries Is  Criticized as Inaccurate and 
Biased,�

New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Richard Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national  security

advisor to ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed� and  said 
of the
program’s depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an  intelligence 
agent,
“It’s 180 degrees from what happened.� [“9/11 Miniseries  Is 
Criticized as

Inaccurate and Biased,� New York Times, September 6, 2006]

Reports suggest that an FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a

consultant to ABC on this program quit halfway through because, “he 
thought  they

were making things up.� [MSNBC, September 7, 2006]

Even Thomas  Kean, who serves as a paid consultant to the miniseries, has
admitted that  scenes in the film are fictionalized. [“9/11 Miniseries Is
Criticized as  Inaccurate and Biased,� New York Times, September 6, 2006]

That Disney would seek to broadcast an admittedly  and proven false

recounting of the events of 9/11 raises serious questions  about the 
motivations of its

creators and those who approved the deeply  flawed program. Finally, that
Disney plans to air commercial-free a program  that reportedly cost it $40
million to produce serves to add fuel to these  concerns.

These concerns are made all the more pressing by  the political leaning of

and the public statements made by the  writer/producer of this miniseries, 
Mr.
Cyrus Nowrasteh, in promoting this  miniseries across conservative blogs 
and

talk shows.

Frankly, that ABC and Disney would consider airing  a program that could be
construed as right-wing political propaganda on such  a grave and important

event involving the security of our nation is a  discredit both to the 
Disney
brand and to the legacy of honesty built at ABC  by honorable individuals 
from
David Brinkley to Peter Jennings.  Furthermore, that Disney would seek to 
use

Scholastic to promote this  misguided programming to American children as a
substitute for factual  information is a disgrace.


As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick  said, “It is critically 
important

to the safety of our nation that our  citizens, and particularly our school

children, understand what actually  happened and why – so that we can 
proceed
from a common understanding of  what went wrong and act with unity to make 
our

country safer.�

Should  Disney allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual

record,  millions of viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation 
of
Disney  as a corporation worthy of the trust  of the American people and 
the

United States Congress will be deeply  damaged. We urge you, after full

consideration of the facts, to uphold your responsibilities as a respected  
member of
American society and as a beneficiary of the free use of the  public 
airwaves to

cancel this factually inaccurate and deeply misguided  program. We look
forward to hearing back from you  soon.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader Harry  Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie  Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron  Dorgan

The Senate Democratic leadership just  threatened Disney's broadcast 
license.
Not the use of the word "trustee" at  the beginning of the letter and 
"trust"

at the end. This is nothing less than  an implicit threat that if Disney

tries to meddle in the US elections on  behalf of the Republicans, they 
will pay a

very serious price when the  Democrats get back in power, or even before.

This raises the stakes  incredibly for  Disney.

The Society that tries to find rationality in the acts of irrational men is
largely a waste of time...
les aaron

THE COMMITTEE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE
www.lesaaron.blogspot.com


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--- Begin Message ---







Maybe there's a hidden little spine tucked away somewhere in the 
Democrat leadership's collection back.  They normally roll over and play 
dead for the repugs and the media but it seems like this has hit a bit 
of a raw nerve.  Seems like there might still be a little life left in 
the old dogs after all. 


 


Jim Langford
"Being a patriot no longer requires a cannon. But it still 
takes balls". Glen Greenwald


 


Thursday, September 07, 
2006

Senate Democratic leadership 
threatens Disney with legal and legislative 
sanctions 

by John in DC - 9/07/2006 06:02:00 PM 



This letter was sent today 
by the entire Democratic leadership of the US Senate. This letter is such a 
major shot across the bow of Disney, it's not even funny. It is FILLED with 
veiled threats, both legal and legislative, against Disney. US Senators don't 
make threats like this, especially the entire Democratic leadership en masse, 
unless they mean it. Disney is in serious trouble.

Read it, then read my 
analysis of it below: 

September 7, 2006

Mr. Robert A. Iger 
President 
  and CEO 
The Walt Disney Company 
500 South Buena Vista Street 
  
Burbank CA 91521 

Dear Mr. Iger,

We write with serious 
  concerns about the planned upcoming broadcast of The Path to 9/11 mini-series 
  on September 10 and 11. Countless reports from experts on 9/11 who have viewed 
  the program indicate numerous and serious inaccuracies that will undoubtedly 
  serve to misinform the American people about the tragic events surrounding the 
  terrible attacks of that day. Furthermore, the 
  manner in which this program has been developed, funded, and advertised 
  suggests a partisan bent unbecoming of a major company like Disney and 
  a major and well respected news organization like ABC. We therefore urge you to cancel this broadcast to 
  cease Disney’s plans to use it as a teaching tool in schools across America 
  through Scholastic. Presenting such deeply flawed and factually 
  inaccurate misinformation to the American public and to children would be a 
  gross miscarriage of your corporate and civic responsibility to the law, to 
  your shareholders, and to the nation.

The Communications Act of 1934 
  provides your network with a free broadcast license predicated on the 
  fundamental understanding of your principle obligation to act as a trustee of the public airwaves in serving the 
  public interest. Nowhere is this public interest obligation more apparent than 
  in the duty of broadcasters to serve the civic needs of a democracy by 
  promoting an open and accurate discussion of political ideas and events. 
  

Disney and ABC claim this program to be based on the 9/11 Commission 
  Report and are using that assertion as part of the promotional campaign for 
  it. The 9/11 Commission is the most respected American authority on the 9/11 
  attacks, and association with it carries a special responsibility. Indeed, the 
  very events themselves on 9/11, so tragic as they were, demand extreme care by 
  any who attempt to use those events as part of an entertainment or educational 
  program. To quote Steve McPhereson, president of ABC Entertainment, “When you 
  take on the responsibility of telling the story behind such an important 
  event, it is absolutely critical that you get it right.”

Unfortunately, 
  it appears Disney and ABC got it totally wrong.

Despite claims by your network’s representatives 
  that The Path to 9/11 is based on the report of the 9/11 Commission, 9/11 
  Commissioners themselves, as well as other experts on the issues, 
  disagree.

Richard Ben-Veniste, speaking for himself and fellow 
  9/11 Commissioners who recently viewed the program, said, “As we were 
  watching, we were trying to think how they could have misinterpreted the 9/11 
  Commission’s findings the way that they had.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized 
  as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006] 

Richard 
  Clarke, the former counter-terrorism czar, and a national security advisor to 
  ABC has described the program as “deeply flawed” and said of the program’s 
  depiction of a Clinton official hanging up on an intelligence agent, “It’s 180 
  degrees from what happened.” [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and 
  Biased,” New York Times, September 6, 2006] 

Reports suggest that an 
  FBI agent who worked on 9/11 and served as a consultant to ABC on this program 
  quit halfway through because, “he thought they were making things up.” [MSNBC, 
  September 7, 2006] 

Even Thomas Kean, who serves as a paid consultant 
  to the miniseries, has admitted that scenes in the film are fictionalized. 
  [“9/11 Miniseries Is Criticized as Inaccurate and Biased,” New York Times, 
  September 6, 2006] 

That Disney would 
  seek to broadcast an admittedly and proven false recounting of the events of 
  9/11 raises serious questions about the motivations of its creators and those 
  who approved the deeply flawed program. Finally, that Disney plans to air 
  commercial-free a program that reportedly cost it $40 million to produce 
  serves to add fuel to these concerns. 

These concerns are made 
  all the more pressing by the political leaning of and the public statements 
  made by the writer/producer of this miniseries, Mr. Cyrus Nowrasteh, in 
  promoting this miniseries across conservative blogs and talk shows. 
  

Frankly, that ABC and Disney would 
  consider airing a program that could be construed as right-wing political 
  propaganda on such a grave and important event involving the security of our 
  nation is a discredit both to the Disney brand and to the legacy of honesty 
  built at ABC by honorable individuals from David Brinkley to Peter Jennings. 
  Furthermore, that Disney would seek to use Scholastic to promote this 
  misguided programming to American children as a substitute for factual 
  information is a disgrace. 

As 9/11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick 
  said, “It is critically important to the safety of our nation that our 
  citizens, and particularly our school children, understand what actually 
  happened and why – so that we can proceed from a common understanding of what 
  went wrong and act with unity to make our country safer.”

Should Disney 
  allow this programming to proceed as planned, the factual record, millions of 
  viewers, countless schoolchildren, and the reputation of Disney as a 
  corporation worthy of the trust of the 
  American people and the United States Congress will be deeply damaged. We urge you, after full consideration of the facts, 
  to uphold your responsibilities as a respected member of American society and 
  as a beneficiary of the free use of the public airwaves to cancel this 
  factually inaccurate and deeply misguided program. We look forward to 
  hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Senate Democratic Leader 
  Harry Reid
Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin
Senator Debbie 
  Stabenow
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Byron 
Dorgan
The Senate Democratic leadership just 
threatened Disney's broadcast license. Not the use of the word "trustee" at the 
beginning of the letter and "trust" at the end. This is nothing less than an 
implicit threat that if Disney tries to meddle in the US elections on behalf of 
the Republicans, they will pay a very serious price when the Democrats get back 
in power, or even before.

This raises the stakes incredibly for 
Disney.













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